AGRICULTURE AS ONE OF THE MAIN FACTORS OF DESTABILIZATION OF ECOLOGICAL BALANCE OF RIVER BASINS IN THE STEPPE ZONE

Abstract

Zaporozhye region is characterized by the highest rate imbalance landscape structure among all regions of Ukraine. The ratio of plowed land to wooded land is 22:1. And also climatic conditions of this zone of Ukraine are not conducive to farming or improving the agronomic potential of the historically fertile chernozem soils. The trend of further changes in climatic indicators indicates an increase in atmospheric air temperature, evaporation and probably a decrease in precipitation. Average long-term (local) river flow availability for Zaporizhzhya region is low (22,8 thousand m3/year) compared to average indicator for Ukraine (86,8 thousand m3/year). But the intensification of agricultural activity allows the region to stay on the leading position in the economic aspect: the index of agricultural production for 2019 is the highest value in Ukraine (129.5). However, irrational farming over time has led to a significant decrease in humus content. The reason for this is a very low amount of organic fertilizers, insufficient supply of organic matter through nutrient and root residues, increased mineralization of organic substance due to intensive cultivation of row crops, washout of the fertile humus layer of soil as a result of water erosion. This method of farming has a significant impact on the ecological condition of river basins and is manifested in: changes in the parameters of the minimum flow of watercourses, deterioration of river water quality, inhibition of the natural ability of watercourses to self-purification and restoration. In the steppe region, such anthropogenic impact is significantly supplemented by unfavorable natural and climatic conditions, which must be taken into account when introducing agrotechnical soil-protective methods of farming.